BoardCast

Iowa Association of School Boards®

Welcome to BoardCast, an IASB® podcast featuring our staff, members and other education experts. Episodes will focus on hot topics and best practices in school finance, board governance, legal and policy issues, HR and more.

  1. 1D AGO

    School Safety in Iowa—Prioritizing Mental Health as a Safety Strategy

    This BoardCast episode highlights mental health as a key driver of school safety with a  focus on prevention and long-term wellness. Stacey Warren from Heartland AEA shares how Iowa districts are integrating mental health supports into their safety strategies and what effective programs look like in practice. The conversation outlines the governance role of school boards, including policy, staffing, and resource considerations, while offering guidance for boards beginning to prioritize mental health. The episode also addresses common challenges and emphasizes the importance of community and parent engagement in supporting student well-being.

    20 min

  2. JAN 13

    Capitol Chats—2026 Legislative Session Preview

    In this episode, IASB Advocacy & Digital Media Specialist Taylor McGill sits down with IASB Government Relations Director Michelle Johnson, IASB Lobbyist Emily Piper, and IASB Associate Executive Director, Government Relations & School Finance Mike Guanci for a deep dive into what you can expect this session, key education issues to be on the lookout for, as well as IASB advocacy tools and tips you can use to best advocate for Iowa public schools in the new year.  To stay in-the-know this session, visit www.ia-sb.org/advocacyaction for timely tools and updates!

    12 min

  3. 12/16/2025

    The Lighthouse Study—25 Years of Impact on School Boards

    For 25 years, The Lighthouse Study has helped define what effective school board leadership looks like—and why it matters for student success. In this special BoardCast episode, host Jen Woodley sits down with Carolyn Jons, who helped publish the study’s original findings, along with Lou Gvist and Tammi Drawbaugh, who continue to work with school boards to apply its research today.

    17 min

  4. 09/29/2025

    Episode 2: School Safety in Iowa—GeoComm Critical Incident Mapping

    In this episode, John Shanks from GeoComm joins us to discuss Iowa’s Critical Incident Mapping program. The State of Iowa has contracted with GeoComm to provide schools with detailed indoor and outdoor GIS maps and mapping software to support emergency response. These tools empower schools and first responders to visualize incidents in real time, improve communication, and decrease response times. GeoComm will also provide secure web and mobile access to maps and critical information—at no cost to schools. Iowa Portal: https://portal-iowa-cim.hub.arcgis.com/.

    16 min

  5. 07/25/2025

    Episode 1: School Safety in Iowa—A Leadership Responsibility

    In this first episode of the Safe & Sound Series, IASB Executive Director D.T. Magee is joined by Tammi Drawbaugh, IASB Associate Executive Director of Board Leadership & Policy Services. Together, they explore why school safety is more than an operational concern—it’s a strategic responsibility for school boards. Learn how governance and management work together to create safer schools. Access a free board reflection resource here.

    6 min

  6. 03/13/2025

    Capitol Chats—2025 First Funnel Recap

    Join IASB's government relations team, Taylor McGill, Michelle Johnson, and Emily Piper, as they discuss the first funnel of the 2025 Iowa legislative session. For more information, visit: www.ia-sb.org/advocacy. Music: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    9 min

  7. 01/08/2025

    Capitol Chats—2025 Legislative Session Preview

    In this episode of BoardCast, IASB’s Advocacy and Digital Media Specialist Taylor McGill chats with IASB Government Relations Director Michelle Johnson and IASB Lobbyist Emily Piper about what we can expect from the upcoming 2025 legislative session in Iowa. For more information, visit: www.ia-sb.org/advocacy. Music: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    12 min

  8. 11/01/2024

    Why Preschool Matters

    In this episode of BoardCast, IASB’s Advocacy and Digital Media Specialist Taylor McGill sits down with IASB Government Relations Director Michelle Johnson and IASB Lobbyist Emily Piper to discuss preschool: why it matters, our proposal, as well as talking points and advocacy tips your district can utilize this upcoming legislative session. To learn more, visit: www.ia-sb.org/preschool. Music: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    7 min
See All (33)

About

Welcome to BoardCast, an IASB® podcast featuring our staff, members and other education experts. Episodes will focus on hot topics and best practices in school finance, board governance, legal and policy issues, HR and more.

Information

  • Creator
    Iowa Association of School Boards®
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Iowa Association of School Boards
  • Show Website
    BoardCast